Halloween Sangria

Forget being the big candy bar house—I want to establish myself as the Halloween Sangria house.

Trick-or-treating for my sisters and me was an Olympic sport. We knew which houses had the most elaborate decorations, which refused to answer the door, and most importantly, which handed out the king-sized candy bars. Maximizing our Halloween haul took strategy, dedication, and a father who patiently escorted us through multiple neighborhoods, all in the name of MORE CANDY.

While we brought home far more chocolate bars than any human large or small should ingest on an annual basis, the idea of Halloween as a single night when kids can dress as their favorite super hero, stay up too late, and yes, eat too much candy, still appeals to me. I also admit that it sounds like a parental nightmare.

To all of the adults who patiently take their kids trick-or-treating, answer their doorbell with a full basket full of candy, and listen to their children endlessly barter Starbursts for Snickers: I offer full glasses of Halloween Sangria.

Blood red, filled with frozen grape “eyeballs,” and boosted with brandy, this spook juice is the perfect pick up during a long night of trick-or-treating. Sangria is also an ideal Halloween drink for a party, because it is easy, festive, and affordable to make in large quantities. The frozen grapes keep the sangria cold without watering it down, ginger ale adds fizz and spunk, and slices of citrus brighten.

I bought the ingredients for my Halloween Sangria at Aldi, which has become one of my favorite places to load up on staples for which the brand name is less important. It’s a no-frills shopping experience, but once you have the system down—insert a quarter for your cart, then retrieve it at the end; bring your own bags; bag your own groceries—I find that the savings Aldi can pass on to customers because they skip the frills leave dollars in my pocket. Their wine selection is also excellent and super affordable. It’s a sangria-maker’s paradise.

This will be my first year handing out candy in a home of my own, and while I will have plenty of the good stuff for the kiddos, I think the grown ups deserve a bit of refreshment too.

Stop on by the Halloween Sangria house. We’re pouring!

Graveyard Chocolate Cheesecake Dip

Sweet and Salty Halloween Chex Mix

And for your leftover Halloween candy:

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

Have a spook-tacular Halloween!

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Halloween Sangria

Yield: 1 pitcher (serves 4-6)

Prep Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

The perfect Halloween drink! Spooky sangria made with "blood" red wine and frozen grape "eye balls," citrus slices, cinnamon, and brandy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole black grapes
• 1 cup whole green grapes
• 2 oranges — sliced into rounds
• 1 lemon — sliced into rounds
• 1 lime — sliced into rounds
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 1 bottle fruity red wine — (750 ml bottle) such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais
• 1 can ginger ale — (12 ounces)
• Colored sugar — for rimming glasses

Instructions

1. Rinse and de-stem grapes, then pat dry. Spread in a single layer a baking sheet, then place in the freezer at least 2 hours before you plan to serve.
2. In a large glass pitcher, combine 1/2 of the orange slices (reserve the second half for serving), lime, and lemon slices. Add the brandy and cinnamon stick and stir gently to combine. Slowly pour in the wine. Refrigerate sangria for at least 2 hours or as long as overnight (a longer chill time will increase the flavor).
3. When ready to serve, add the ginger ale to the pitcher and stir gently with spoon. To sugar the glass rims, place the colored sugar on a plate, then rub an orange slice around the glass rim. Dip the rim of each glass into the sugar, coating well. Fill glasses with frozen grapes and reserved orange slices, then slowly pour in the sangria. Sip immediately and enjoy.

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Drink Recipe, Halloween Sangria

All text and images © Erin Clarke / Well Plated.

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More  Halloween party tricks and treats:

• Graveyard Chocolate Cheesecake Dip
• Boo-tiful Halloween Cake from i am baker
• Halloween Popcorn Balls from Cook the Story

I am sharing this post in partnership with Aldi as a holiday brand ambassador. Thanks as always for your support of the companies I work with and value!